Universal-motion operating device.



J. A. SILSBEE. UNWERSAL moiom OPERATING [5H/10E.

APPLICATmN FILED FEB. 2. 39H2.

T mv.

3 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

JAMES A. SILSBEE, OF ELMIRA, NEW YGRK.

UNIVERSAL-Morton oPnnA'rIive nevica.

Application filed February 2, 1918.

To all '1o/0m 'it may concer/1:

Be it known that I, Jaime A. SILsBEn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of N ew York, have invented eer tain new and useful Improvements in Universal-illotion Operatine Devices, of which the following is a speci cation.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a ready means for controlling at a distance such devices as spot and searchlights and the like, where movements in different directions are required to be accurately controlled, my structure being simple iu arrangement-and eliminating any cumbersome or complicated mechanism.

A further objecty of the invention is the provision of mechanism .whereby oscillatory and rotary movement may be imparted to any article desired, such movements` being performed either separately in the desired direction or simultaneously in either of the oscillating and tions.

The general objects of the intention being `those herein noted, one adaptation of the device is presented for purposes of illustration and consists of a headlight tor an autol mobile adjustably operated'by the device from a pointl adjacent the drivers seat of the vehicle.

lVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of part-s hereinafter more fully described illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the'several views,

Figure l is a side View of the forward portion of an automobile partly broken away with the device operatively arranged thereon.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the mounting base employed Withthe device for supporting the member to -be moved. such as a searchlight.

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation of larranged upon the base.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken upon line IV-lVof Fig.

a, part of this Spd'cication oi Letters .Patent either of the rotary direca searchlight Fatented Nov. Zei, iQiS. Serial Ho. 215,2151.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the operating valve.

F ig. T is a top plan view thereof.

Fig- 8 is a top plan view of the valve casing.

Figs. 9 and l0 are vertical sectional views taken through the casingv upon planes perpendicular to each other.

Figs. ll and l2 are elevational views of different sides ofthe valve plug or turn member.v

Fig. 13 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. lit is a central longitudinal sectional view of the saine.

Figs. 15 and lli are elevational views of different sides of the auxiliary plug eniploved with the mainl plug illustrated in l" s. ll, l2, 13 and l and Figs. 1T and 1S are elevational views of the opposite ends of the said auxiliary plug.

The embodiment of the device now set forth is illustrated in connection ,with an automobile l() having a body ll. drivers seat 1Q, steering wheel 13, wind shield 14, and dash or instrument board lf'the invention broadly consisting of an operating member in mounted upon the dash board adapted for controlling the. movements of searchlight mechanism la" positioned upon a bracket 1S forwardl"y of the radiator 19 of the vehicle.

A cruriforin hase 19 is arranged for adjnstahly mounting the searehlight proper or lamp 2t? thereon. a pivot screw .21 being nxedly threaded in the base 19 adjacent one of the side arms' 22 thereof while :i yoke is journaled upon said screw by meansmf its boss 2l and the lamip 20 is swingingly mounted in the yoke hy truunious 25. A cylinder i'G is tixedly secured upon a suitable .post "2T laterally projecting from the yoke 23 and is arranged with a piston 2S adapted to reciprocate therein.

A rod 29 is provided for the piston 28 slidably passing through a stutling box 30 in the upper end of the cylinder 26, the said rod being operatively connected by means of a crank or link 3l with an arm 32 of the adjacent trunnion 25 of the lamp Q0. it will be understood that by creating' a partial vacuum in the cylinder :26 beneath the piston- 29 by exhausting the air through a pipe or connection 33 in the manner hereinafter set forth, the said piston will he lowered corio spondingly tilting the lamp 2O downwardly or forwardly. A similar pipe 34 enters the cylinder 26 adjacent its upper end adapted vfor exhausting 'the air above the piston 28,

which elevates the said piston and tilts the lamp upwardly. Y

The base 19 is provided with a longitudinally arranged chamber 35 having a piston 36 slidably arranged therein with a rod 37 passthe 'base 19 with its outer ends secured to av` ing through a stuling box 38 at one end of depending finger 39 of a toothed rack 40 slidably mounted upon the top 41 of the base 19. The" said rack has'a depending rib 42 slida'bly arranged within the longi-V tudinal groove 43 substantially centrally po'.- sitioned in said base topA 41 while a substantially Z-shapedclip 44 1s secured to the base y 19 and overlies the rack 40 for retaining the latter within the groove43.

A pinion 45 is keyed to the bossl 24 in constant mesh with the teeth of the rack 40 and it will be evident that a movement of the piston 36 will impart rotary movement to the yoke 23 and lamp 20. A pipe 46 comwell as the rack`40 will be moved forwardly chamber 56 extends through the. casing 54' with its larger end opening in the top 57 of thereby turning the lamp 20 toward the right, While an exhausting of the air through the pipe 47 ,effects a rearward movement of the rack 40 turning the said lamp towardv the left hand side of the base 19 and vehicle 10. A head 48 is threaded into the forward end of the chamber 35 having an instrument receiving kerf 49 therein, while the head 50 which is providedwith the stuiiing box 38 at the opposite end of the chamber 35 is arranged with Spanner Wrench receivingsockets 51 for serewingvthe head 50. A

erforation 52 is arranged through the side arm of the base 19 opposite the arm for convenience in attaching the base to a su )port such as the bracket 18.

he operating mechanism 16 is in the nature ycfa controlleror double valve and provides a substantially cubical block form of easing 54 with a mounting plate for securing the controller to the dash 'board 15. An inverted cone-shaped recess or valve the said casing and adapted for the reception of a tapered plug 58 arranged for turning in said recess when the controller is as sembled, a threaded reduced stem 59 being arranged upon the bottom of the plug for receiving a lock member 60 for' maintaining the plug 5S seated within the recess 56.`

A. passage or port 61 extends through tm side of the easing 54 adapted to 'be connected by means of a suitable pipe 62 arranged' through the dash board 15 with the intake manifold 63 of the internal combustion engine, not. shown, of the automobile 10. The

plug 59 has an annular groove 64 communieating with the inner end of the port 61 when the controller is assembled while an angular portV 65 passes through the plug 58 with one end communicating with the groove 64 and its opposite end portion arranged Aaxially of the plug 58, terminating centrally within a tapered bore 66 arranged through a transversely positioned extension 67 upo the top of the said plug 58.

Spaced ports 68 and 69 are positioned in the same transverse plane through the rear side of the casing 54 above the plane and at opposite sidesof the suction port 64, pipes 7 O and '71'bein'g respectively att-ached thereto and passing through the dash board 15.

The pipes 70, 71 are respectively attached to the pipes 47, 46 of the base chamber 35.

lateral port 72 is provided in the plug 58 communicating with the exhaust port 65 and adapted to be brought into registry with either ofthe ports 68' or 69 upon turning the plug 58v within the recess 56 and whereby as will be evident, the suction from the mo tor intake 63 will be communicated. to either of the pipes 47 or 46, for operating the pisten 36 in the required direction for turning the lamp 20 Aupon its pivot screw 21 in the desired direction. Longitudinal grooves 7 3 andA 74 are arranged in the side of the plug 58, opening at the top thereof and equally spaced from opposite sides of the transverse port 72.

With the plug 58 arranged within the seat 56 of the valve casing 54, a partial revolution of the said plug toward the right will bring the port. 72 into communication with the port 69 and -atjwhichtimes the groove 74 will commiln'iiicaftev with the port 68. In this n'iannerQ-theA` groove '74 through the agency of the port 68, vpipes 70 and 47 communicate with the basechamber 35 rearwardly of the piston 36 admitting air at atmospheric pressure rearwardly of the piston 36. At such times also, the chamber 35 is connected adjacent its forward end with the intake maniL fold 63 for exhausting the air forwardly of the piston 36 by means ofthe pipe 62, port 61, groove 64, port 65, port 72, port 69, andpipes 71 and 46.

Without further comment it will be seen that the slight turning of the plug 58 ofthe communication with the port 69 for admitting atmospheric pressure forwardly of the piston 36 and connects the port T2 with the port for creat-ing a suction back ot' the piston 36 and turning the lamp 2O toward the left. The lamp 20 is thereby readily turned either toward the right or the lett by correspondingly revolving the. plug 58 of the controller 16 by the driver positioned upon the seat l2.

A port 75 extends through the rear side of the casing'-l above the vacuum port 6l and is arranged with a pipe 76 passing through the dash board l5 connected to the pipe 3-1 of the cylinder 26. An annular groove 77 is provided in the plug 58 above the groove 6l and has an angular port 78 passing through the said plug terminating Within the bore 66 at one side of the open end of the port 65, it being understood that the groove 7T is always in communication with the port 75 when the device is assembled. It will be seen that by connecting the ports and 78 together in the manner hereinafter described, the manifold 63 will be in communication with the pipe 34 for tilting the lamp 20 upwardly.

A port 79 is provided through the rear wall of the casing 54 beneath the vacuum -port 6l having a pipe 80 extending` through the dash board l5 and attached to the pipe 33 of the cylinder A `groove 8l is ar- :ranged around the plug 5S beneath the groove 64 and in constant communication With the port 79, while a port. 82 extends through the plug 58 in communication with the groove 8l and with its upper end opening within the bore 66 at the opposite side of the port 65 from the port 78. It` will be seen that by eleoting communication gbetween the vacuum port 65 and the port 82 that a suction will take place during the operationfof the device beneath the piston 28. thereby tilting the lamp `rl0 downwardly.

An auxiliary plug or valve turn member 83 is arranged within the bore G6 preterably having a looking' device 8l upon its reduced threaded end 85 while an operatingr handle 86 radially projects from a. head S7 upon the oppositev end thereof. A longitudinal side gro: SS is arranged in tho auxiliary plug Sil adapted for spanning the adjacent. upper end ot' the ports (35 and 78 within the bore (in when the auxiliary plugr is slightly rotated from its normal position by moving the handle 86 upwardly. This positioning ofl the auxiliary plug S3 places a transverse port' 89 of the plug S3 in communication with the port 82, thereby exhaust-ing the lower end of the piston chamber'o the cylinder 26 to the atmosphere through the cutaway top portion 90 of the main plug extension 67. This upward movement of the handle ell'ecls a communication between the manifold 83 and the upper end of the ehaniber of the Cylinder whereb v the lamp il() is tilted upwardly.

A longitudinal side groove 91 is arranged in the auxiliary plug S3 which is adapted to span and connect the upper ends ol'- the ports 55 and 82, when the handle 86 is moved downwardly. This operation, as will be apparent, etl'eCts a communication between the. manifold G3 and the pipe 33 at a point beneath the piston 28 for lowering the piston and tilting the lamp 20 downwardly. At such times, a transverse port 9:2 of the auxiliary plug 8S is positioned in communication with the port 78 for admitting air through the out-away portion 90 to the pipe 3l above the piston 28 and the pressure of which air lowers the said piston when the air therebeneath'has been rarelied by the Communication of the lower end of the cylinder :2G with the intake 63. It will be seen that the adjacent ends ot' the port S9 and 5);? are always open to the atmosphere through the cut-away portion 90 of the plug extension GT and that the opposite end of the port 89 is in line with the groove 8S while the corresponding end of the port' 92 is in lino with the groove 91.

The driver ot the automobile l() may readily tilt the lamp "2() either upwardly or downwardly for throvvingv its rays at the desired elevation b v correspondinglv moving the handle 86 ol' the controller lo either upwardlyor downwardly. The lamp 2O may be swung laterally either toward the right or toward the left b v a turning` of tln` lplug` 5S in a co1'responding right hand or left hand direction by the operator grasping` the said handle S6. ll will l"also bo obvious that the movements ot' the plugs 5S and Sljby means of the handle Slaro independent ot' each other and tho sume may be simultaneously shifted tor moving the lamp 2O either toward the right or thc loft and upwardly or dovvnunrdlv. The amount ot' movement oli the lump 20 is accurately controlled b v shifting the handle Sl; for cfl'cctiug the desired movenwnt and when thc proper ifosition is roar-luid.. the plug or plugs uw returned lo their neutral positions. leaving either of the pistons 2S or Il@ at any desired inturuujdiuto point in thc truvc tbl-roof.

lt will ,be u.'uh: r: to ul that :in v lump u -h as a spotlight may be shifted at any distance trom the controller '16 while any form ot suction or exhaust device other than an explosive motor may be employed for operating the device. It will also he seen that the entire mechanism .is adaptable for pneumatif control. the operations in such use being substantially opposite to that. herein described. l"/hile the form of the invention herein set forth is believed to be the prefer4 able enbmlimen of the device. it will bo `stood that minor changes muy bc made ill? ffments of the said member may be se ectively or simultaneously accomplished.

member,' separate'air controlled operating pistons for .the .tilting and rotary ,move- -ments thereof, 'acontrolling valve positioned at a distance therefrom, separate air 'conduits leading fronithesaid valve tothe opposite vsides of each of said pistons adapted for reciprocating the pistons'in either ydi rection and manually controlling means for vpistons ory the tiltin1 ments thereof,l 'a' contro i the valve.

l 3. In combination, a tiltable and shiftable member, separate air controlled operating and rotary moveng valve positioned at -a distanceitherefroni, separate air con- Bof- ` w'g'alvel Wherebythe first named member may duits leading-from'the said/'valve tothe oppositesides 'of each of saidf'pistons adapted onreciprocating the pistons in either direction, air pressure changing'means operatively connected tothe said' 'valve and manually'shiftable controlling means for the 2. In combination, a tiltableand shiftable be selectively or simultaneously tilted or revolved at Will.

d. In combination with a tiltably and ating handlehfor the valve adapted for iml parting tilting Iand rotary movement to the lamp in .af predetermined direction upon tiltingly or rotarily shifting the said handle.

5. In combination With a base having a piston therein,4 a lamp rotarily mounted upon said' base adapted for actuation by the piston, an auxiliary piston adapted for tilt-v ing 'the said lamp, a valve casing positioned at a distance from the lamp, air conduits between the said casing and at points adjacent the opposite sides of each of said pistons, an air pressure changing means connected to the Said casing, a valve plug rotatably arranged in the casing adapted upon movement for controlling the air connections with Athe base carried piston for moving the lamp rotarily and an auxiliary turnA plug in the said valve plug adapted upon turning for controlling the said auxiliary piston for tiltably moving the lampin either direction.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES A. sitsenn. 

